Advent
Advent is coming! During this four-week season that directly precedes Christmas, Christians remember Jesus’s first coming and look toward his second coming. It is a time of anticipation and hope. It also marks a change in pace from the rest of the year. In our fast-paced, impatient culture, Advent can be a welcome respite. In fact, people often attend church during this time to seek out the love and spiritual connection they may not find elsewhere. Regardless of the state of the world or their personal circumstances, people are hungry for something more during Advent. Be prepared, as a leader, to offer more.
You can do it! And I have a few suggestions. In fact, here are three ways church leaders can offer more during Advent.
#1 Create Rituals of Waiting
In our society, we are used to getting what we want when we want it. We have become accustomed to a world of instant gratification. Uber Eats, Amazon Prime, and video on demand are examples of this. However, Advent teaches us that sometimes the most valuable things in life take time. Both to prepare for, and to receive. Yet, they are worth waiting for.
This is not to say that waiting is easy. In fact, it can often be quite difficult. Invite your congregation to embrace the idea of waiting during this Advent season. Design rituals that mark the progression of time and bring a sacred sense of anticipation. Hold a craft evening to create Advent calendars. Invite people to walk a labyrinth in individual and group settings. Make and put gifts aside for future gift-giving.
#2 Tap into Spiritual Longings
It’s easy to focus on how the church in North America is in decline. While this is true it is not the full story. Lifeway research finds that 6 in 10 people are willing to attend a Christmastime service if invited. While this research was done before the pandemic, it still holds true that some people are simply awaiting the invitation. People are still interested in spiritual community. They are looking for a way to connect with something larger than themselves. The church is designed for this! Tap into people’s spiritual longings by creating messages and experiences that encourage people to go deeper. Then ask your congregation to invite people to join them in church.
#3 Expect a Crowd
This is the time of year when even people who do not usually attend church services try to come. As a leader, take advantage of this by making sure that your church is ready to welcome them. In fact, expect a crowd. With that in mind, make sure that your church is clean and inviting. Spruce up the bathrooms and the nursery. Make sure that there are enough chairs for everyone. Get out the good coffee. Fill the fellowship hall with extra treats. Most importantly, ensure your congregation is ready to welcome visitors with open arms. Invite your congregation to see every guest as a gift from God. Introduce yourself to people you don’t know. Call familiar faces by name. Others around you will follow suit.
Offer More this Advent
As we come out of the pandemic, people long for human connections, spiritual depth, and the joy of being together at a special time of year. Offer more in whatever way you can. This is a time when people are often more receptive to thoughts and ideas that they might normally deflect. Use this opportunity to encourage people to grow in their faith and rekindle their relationship with God.
Over the next several weeks, I will be talking about Advent and how we can make the most of this sacred season. Be sure to check my blogs for new posts every week that will help you make this Christmas season the best one yet! I hope you will join me as we prepare for Christmas.
If you’re already thinking ahead to Lent, you are not alone. Please check out a unique opportunity to experience the 40 Days of Apostleship as a congregation.
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